1.9: The York Play of the Crucification Last updated Save as PDF Page ID255874 \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \) \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) ( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\id}{\mathrm{id}}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\kernel}{\mathrm{null}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\range}{\mathrm{range}\,}\) \( \newcommand{\RealPart}{\mathrm{Re}}\) \( \newcommand{\ImaginaryPart}{\mathrm{Im}}\) \( \newcommand{\Argument}{\mathrm{Arg}}\) \( \newcommand{\norm}[1]{\| #1 \|}\) \( \newcommand{\inner}[2]{\langle #1, #2 \rangle}\) \( \newcommand{\Span}{\mathrm{span}}\) \( \newcommand{\AA}{\unicode[.8,0]{x212B}}\) \( \newcommand{\vectorA}[1]{\vec{#1}} % arrow\) \( \newcommand{\vectorAt}[1]{\vec{\text{#1}}} % arrow\) \( \newcommand{\vectorB}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vectorC}[1]{\textbf{#1}} \) \( \newcommand{\vectorD}[1]{\overrightarrow{#1}} \) \( \newcommand{\vectorDt}[1]{\overrightarrow{\text{#1}}} \) \( \newcommand{\vectE}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash{\mathbf {#1}}}} \) \( \newcommand{\vecs}[1]{\overset { \scriptstyle \rightharpoonup} {\mathbf{#1}} } \) \( \newcommand{\vecd}[1]{\overset{-\!-\!\rightharpoonup}{\vphantom{a}\smash {#1}}} \) Persons of the Play Jesus, Soldiers 1,2,3,4 [Scence, Golgotha, afterwards Mount Calvary] 1st Soldier.Sir knights, take heed hither in haste This death without trouble we cannot draw, Ye know yourselves as well as I How lords and leaders of our law Have given doom that this dolt shall die. 2nd Soldier.Sir, all their counsel well we know, Since we are come to Calvary, Let every man help now as he ought. 3rd Soldier.We are all ready lo ! that promise to fulfil. 4th SoldierLet’s hear how we shall do, and go we quick thereto. 1st Soldier.It may not help here for to wait, 2nd Soldier.He must be dead, indeed, by noon. 3rd Soldier.Then is good time that we begin. 4th Soldier.Let’s strike him down, then is he done, He shall not harm us with his din. 1st Soldier.He shall be set and learned soon With grief to him and all his kin. 2nd Soldier.The foulest death of all shall he die for his deeds. 3rd Soldier.That means cross him we shall 4th Soldier.Behold so right he redis 1st Soldier.Then to this work we must take heed, So that our working be not wrong. 2nd Soldier.None other note to name we need. But let us haste him for to hang. 3rd Soldier.And I have gone for gear good speed. Both hammers and nails large and long. 4th Soldier.Then may be boldly do this deed. Come on, let’s kill this traitor strong. 1st Soldier.Ye might, mayhap, do in company, That has wrought in this way. 2nd Soldier.We need not for to learn Such liars to chastise. 3rd Soldier.Since such a thing is right arrayed The wiselier now work may we. 4th Soldier.The cross on ground is goodly placed, And bored even as it ought to be. 1st Soldier.Look that the lad on length be laid, And made full fast unto this tree. 2nd Soldier.For all his acts he shall be flayed That one assay soon shall ye see. 3rd Soldier.Come forth thou cursed knave, Thy comfort soon shall cool. 4th Soldier.Thy reward here shalt thou have. 1st Soldier.Walk on, now work we will. Jesus.Almighty God my Father free, Let this matter be kept in mind, Thou bid’st that I should obedient be, For Adam’s guilt I should be pyned Here to death I oblige me From that sin to save mankind, And sovereignly beseech I thee, That they for me may favor find And bored even as it ought to be. And from the fiend them (de)fend, arrayed, put in order. So that their souls be saved In weal withouten end. I care naught else to crave. 1st Soldier.We! hark, sir knights, for Mahomet’s blood! Of Adam-kind is all his thought. 2nd Soldier.The wizard waxeth worse than mad, This doleful deed he dreadeth not. 3rd Soldier.Thou shouldst have minde, with might and mood, Of wicked works that thou hast wrought. 4th Soldier.I think that he had been as good To have ceased these sayings that he upbrought. 1st Soldier.Those words shall rue him sore, For all his sauntering, soon. 2nd Soldier.Ill speed them that him spare Till he to death be done ! 3rd Soldier.Have done now, boy, and make thee boune And bend thy back unto this tree. [Jesus lies down. 4th Soldier.Behold, himself has laid him down, In length and breadth as he should be. 1st Soldier.This traitor here tainted of treason, Go fast and fetch him then ye three, And since he claimeth kingdom with crown, Even as a king here have them shall he. 2nd Soldier.Now, certis, I shall not feign Before his right hand be fast. 3rd Soldier.The left hand then is mine, Let’s see who bears him best. 4th Soldier.His limbs on length then shall I lead, And even unto the bore them bring 1st Soldier.Unto his head I shall take heed, And with mine hand help him to hang. 2nd Soldier.Now since we four shall do this deed, And meddle with this unthrifty thing Let no man spare for special speed Till that we have made of this an end. 3rd Soldier.This order may not fail, Now we are right arrayed. 4th Soldier.This boy here in our charge Shall bide full bitter blows. 1st Soldier.Sir Knights, how work we now ! 2nd Soldier.Certis, sir, I hope I hold this hand. 3rd Soldier.And to the boreI have it brought. Full easily withouten band. 4th Soldier.Strike on them hard, help him ye ought. 1st Soldier.Yes, here is a stub will stiffly stand. Through bones and sinews it shall be sought. This work is well done, I warrant. 2nd Soldier.Say, sir, how do we there? This affair may not hold. 3rd Soldier.It fails a foot and more The sinews are so gone in. 4th Soldier.I hope that mark amiss be bored. 2nd Soldier.Then must he bide in bitter pain. 3rd Soldier.In faith it was o’er scantly scored; That makes it greatly for to fail. 1st Soldier.Why speak ye so? fasten a cord And tug him to it, by head and tail 3rd Soldier.Yea, thou command’st us lightly as a lord. Come help to haul, with ille haile. 1st Soldier.Now certis that shall I do, Full surely as a snail. And 3rd Soldier.And I shall fasten him, too, Full nimbly with a nail. This work will hold, that dare I promise For now are bound fast both his hands 4th Soldier.Go we all four then to his feet So shall our space be speedily spent. 2nd Soldier.Let’s see what jest his grief might (a)mend. There to my back now would I bend. 4th Soldier.Oh ! this work is all unfit This boring must be all amend 1st Soldier.Ah! peace man, for Mahomet, Let no man know that wonder, A rope shall pull him down If all his sinews go asunder. 2nd Soldier.That cord full kindly can I tie The comfort of this carle to cool 1st Soldier.Bind on then fast that all be fit. It is no matter how cruel it feels. 2nd Soldier.Pull on ye both a little yet. 3rd Soldier.I shall not cease, as I have bliss. 4th Soldier.And I shall go forward, him to hit. 2nd Soldier.Ow! haul! 4th Soldier.How now, I hauled it well. 1st Soldier.Have done, drive in that nail. So that no fault be found. 4th Soldier.This working would not fail If four bulls here were bound. 1st Soldier.These cords have much increased his pains, Before he was to the borings brought. 2nd Soldier.Yea, asunder are both sinews and veins On either side, so have we sought. 3rd Soldier.Now all his tricks no thing him gains. His sauntering shall with grief be bought. 4th Soldier.I will go say to our sovereigns Of all this work how we have wrought. 1st Soldier.Nay sirs, another thing Falls first to you and me, I was told we should him hang, On high that men may see. 2nd Soldier.We know well so their words were But sir, that deed will do us harm. 1st Soldier.It may not mend to argue more. This caitiff must be hanged here. 2nd Soldier.The mortice is made fit therefore 3rd Soldier.Bind on your fingers then, in feere “ 4th Soldier.I think it will never come there. We four raise it not right this year. 1st Soldier.Say man, why carp’st thou so? Thy lifting was but light. 2nd Soldier.He means there must be more To heave him up on high. 3rd Soldier.Now, certis, I hope it shall not need To call to us more company. Methinks we four should do this deed And bear him to yon hill on high. 1st Soldier.It must be done withouten fear, No more but look ye be ready ; And this part shall I lift and lead, On length he shall no longer lie. Therefore now make you advance Let’s bear him to yon hill. 4th Soldier.Then will I bear here down And tend his toes unto. 2nd Soldier.We two shall see to either side, For else this work will twist all wrong. 3rd Soldier.We are ready, in God, sirs, abide And let me first his feet up catch. 2nd Soldier.Why heed ye so to tales this tyde? 1st Soldier.Lift up ! [All lift the cross together 4th Soldier.Let’s see! 2nd Soldier.Oh ! lift along. 3rd Soldier.From all this harm he should him hide If he were God. 4th Soldier.The devil him hang! 1st Soldier.For great harm have I taken, My shoulder is in sunder. 2nd Soldier.And certis, I am near ruined So long have I borne under. 3rd Soldier.This cross and I in two must divide Else breaks my back in sunder soon. 4th Soldier.Lay down again and leave your din. This deed for us will never be done. [They lay it down 1st Soldier.Assay, sirs, let’s see if any thing May help him up without delay; For here should strong men honor win And not with tricks all day to go on. 2nd Soldier.But stronger men than we Full few I hope ye find. 3rd Soldier.This bargain will not be For certis I want wind. 4th Soldier.So useless at work we never were. I hope this wretch some cunning cast. 2nd Soldier.My burden set me wondrous sore. Unto the hill I might not last. 1st Soldier.Lift up and soon he shall be there Therefore fasten on your fingers fast. 3rd Soldier.Oh, lift ! [They take up the cross again 1st Soldier.We, lo ! 4th Soldier.A little more. 2nd Soldier.Hold then ! 1st Soldier.How now! 2nd Soldier.The worst is past. 3rd Soldier.He weighs a wicked weight. 2nd Soldier.So may we all four say, Ere he was heaved on high, And raised in this array. 4th Soldier.He made us stand as any stones, So mighty-big was he for to bear. 1st Soldier.Now raise him nimbly for the nonce. And set him by this mortise here. And let him fall in all at once For certis that pain shall have no peer. 3rd Soldier.Heave up! 4th Soldier.Let down, so all his bones Are asunder now on many sides. 1st Soldier.His falling was more cruel Than all the hurts he had. Now may a man well count The last joint of this lad. 3rd Soldier.Me thinketh this cross will not abide Nor stand still in this mortise yet. 4th Soldier.At the first time was it made o’er wide That makes it sway, thou may’st well see. 1st Soldier.It shall be set on every side So that it shall no further wave. Good wedges shall we take this tide And fasten the foot, then is all fit. 2nd Soldier.Here are wedges well made For that, both large and small. 3rd Soldier.Where are our hammers laid? That we should work withal? 4th Soldier.We have them here even at our hand. 2nd Soldier.Give me that wedge, I shall it drive. 4th Soldier.Here is another yet prepared. 3rd Soldier.Do bring it me hither at once. 1st Soldier.Lay on then fast. 3rd Soldier.Yes, I warrant. I press them together, so may I thrive, Now will this cross full stably stand And if he tear they will not rive. 1st Soldier,(to Jesus. Say, sir, how lik’st thou now This work that we have wrought? 4th Soldier.We pray you tell us how Ye feel, or faint ye ought? Jesus.All men that walk by path or street, Take heed ye shall no labor lose, Behold mine head, mine hands, mine feet, And fully feel now ere ye stay, If any mourning may be mete Or mischief measured unto mine. My Father that all grief may mend, Forgive these men that do me pain. What they do know they not, Therefore, my Father I crave Let never their sins be sought, But see their souls to save. 1st Soldier.We! hark! he prates like a jay. 2nd Soldier.Methinks he chatters like a pye. 3rd Soldier.He has been talking all this day And made great praying of mercy. 4th Soldier.Is this the same that ‘gan us say, That he was God’s son almighty? 1st Soldier.Therefor he feels full sharp afraid, And doomed this day for to die. 2nd Soldier.Vah ! ” whoso destroys this temple.” 3rd Soldier.His sayings were so certain. 4th Soldier.And, sirs, he said to some He might raise it again. 1st Soldier.To show that, he had no might, For all the cunning that he could cause And if he were in words so wight, For all his force now he is fast. As Pilate judged is done and dight, Therefore I counsel that we go rest. 2nd Soldier.This course must be rehearsed right Through the world, both east and west. 3rd Soldier.Yea, let him hang here still And make mouths at the moon. 4th Soldier.Then may we wend at will. 1st Soldier.Nay, good sirs, not so soon. For certis we need look to another note This kirtle would I of you crave. 2nd Soldier.Nay, nay sir, we will try by lot. Which of us four it falls to to have. 3rd Soldier.I advise we draw cuts for this coat ; Lo! see how soon all sides to save. 4th Soldier.The short cut shall win, that well ye know. Whether it fall to knight or knave. 1st Soldier.Fellows, ye need not scold, For this mantle is mine. 2nd Soldier.Go we then hence at once, This labor here we lose. Source: “The Crucifixion of Christ.” A Rosary of Mystery Plays. Trans. Margaret S. Mooney. Albany: Frank H. Evory, 1915. HathiTrust. 99-108. Web. 12 Apr. 2016. <http://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.32044009972274>